U.S. patent application number 16/335083 was filed with the patent office on 2019-07-18 for wiping element with concentric skirts.
This patent application is currently assigned to L'OREAL. The applicant listed for this patent is L'OREAL. Invention is credited to William DELBOVE, Lionel DRUGEON, Jean-Marc LEBRAND, Antoine LEBRUN.
Application Number | 20190216206 16/335083 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57860977 |
Filed Date | 2019-07-18 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190216206 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
DRUGEON; Lionel ; et
al. |
July 18, 2019 |
WIPING ELEMENT WITH CONCENTRIC SKIRTS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a wiping element of axis X
comprising an internal wiping skirt extended in its lower part by a
wiping lip defining a wiping orifice, the internal wiping skirt
being extended in its upper part by a shoulder connected to an
external catching skirt by a holding portion, at least one
preferably annular first groove, open towards the wiping lip, being
defined between the internal wiping skirt and the external catching
skirt.
Inventors: |
DRUGEON; Lionel; (Clichy,
FR) ; LEBRAND; Jean-Marc; (Clichy, FR) ;
DELBOVE; William; (Clichy, FR) ; LEBRUN; Antoine;
(Clichy, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
L'OREAL |
Paris |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
L'OREAL
Paris
FR
|
Family ID: |
57860977 |
Appl. No.: |
16/335083 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2017 |
PCT Filed: |
September 22, 2017 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2017/074111 |
371 Date: |
March 20, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45D 40/265 20130101;
A45D 40/267 20130101; A45D 34/046 20130101; A45D 34/045
20130101 |
International
Class: |
A45D 40/26 20060101
A45D040/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 23, 2016 |
FR |
1658967 |
Claims
1. A wiping element of axis X comprising an internal wiping skirt
extended in its lower part by a wiping lip defining a wiping
orifice, wherein the internal wiping skirt is extended in its upper
part by a shoulder connected to an external catching skirt by a
holding portion, at least one preferably annular first groove, open
towards the wiping lip, being defined between the internal wiping
skirt and the external catching skirt.
2. The wiping element according to claim 1, wherein the external
catching skirt extends axially over at least a quarter of the
height of the internal wiping skirt, preferably over at least half
the height of the internal wiping skirt and more preferably still
over at least the entire height of the internal wiping skirt.
3. The wiping element according to claim 1, wherein the external
catching skirt includes an external sealing fluting.
4. The wiping element according to claim 1, wherein the holding
portion includes at least one intermediate holding skirt of axis X
or a collar.
5. The wiping element according to claim 4, wherein the
intermediate holding skirt provides, with the external catching
skirt, at least one preferably annular second groove, open towards
the wiping lip.
6. The wiping element according to claim 1, wherein the internal
wiping skirt includes an internal surface provided with an internal
sealing fluting.
7. The wiping element according to claim 1, wherein the annular
second groove houses at least a first magnet or a ballast that is
fixed relative to the annular second groove.
8. The wiping element according to claim 1, wherein it is formed as
a single piece of one or of two materials.
9. A device of axis Y for packaging and applying a product,
particularly a care or make-up product, including: a receptacle for
containing the product, an applicator affixed to a cap and
comprising an application element, wherein the receptacle is
provided with a wiping element as defined according to claim 1, the
wiping orifice being traversed by the application element upon its
exit from the receptacle.
10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the wiping element or
the cap includes at least a first magnet.
11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the wiping element or
the cap includes a ballast or at least a second magnet, the first
and second magnets being, as appropriate, arranged so as to attract
one another upon passage from the open position to the closed
position.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the first and second
magnets include one or pairs of polar zones or studs.
13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the cap includes an
enlarged base part and a thinned gripping part.
14. The device according to claim 9, the product being a product to
be taken from the receptacle, particularly a mascara.
15. A cosmetic method comprising the operations consisting in: (i)
providing a device according to claim 9, (ii) gripping the
receptacle with one hand and the applicator with the other hand,
(iii) opening the device by pulling or turning on the cap, possibly
to overcome the force of attraction between the first and second
magnets, (iv) closing the device by bringing the cap and the
receptacle together, possibly assisted by the force of attraction
between the first and second magnets.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to devices for packaging and
applying a cosmetic product and more particularly those including a
receptacle containing the product to be applied and an applicator
including an applicator member that is introduced into the
receptacle in order to be loaded with product and passes through a
wiping element as it is withdrawn from the receptacle.
[0002] The wiping element generally has a dual function, namely
that of wiping off the excess product present on the stem and that
of controlling the load of product on the applicator member.
TECHNOLOGICAL BACKGROUND
[0003] Various wiping elements have been proposed in publications
FR 2 855 380, FR 2 865 911, FR 2 792 618, EP 1 275 322 and U.S.
Pat. No. 8,221,015, with particular shapes given to the wiping lip
so as to wipe the applicator member as thoroughly as possible.
[0004] One important aspect of cosmetic devices with a wiping
element that contain volatile products, such as mascaras, concerns
their sealing.
[0005] More generally, a cosmetic product is a product as defined
in Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009 of the European Parliament and of
the Council of 30 Nov. 2009 on cosmetic products.
[0006] It has already been proposed to improve the sealing of such
devices. For example, patent EP 0761123 describes a device
including a reservoir provided with a wiping element and an
applicator provided with a flat handle. The handle may include a
sealing system such as a gasket or, alternatively, a washer that
bears on a collar to reduce the passage of volatile products
between the reservoir and the applicator.
[0007] Another drawback encountered when using devices that include
a wiping element is that the applicator behaves like a piston when
it moves into the reservoir, thereby making it difficult for the
user to remove it.
[0008] WO 1997007705 has already proposed a wiping element that is
adapted to the form of the applicator bristles so as to scrape the
bristles in parallel to their longitudinal axis upon removal,
thereby improving removal of the applicator.
[0009] There is a need to further improve wiping elements in order,
notably: [0010] to thoroughly wipe off the stem whilst enabling the
application member to be loaded with the required quantity of
product, [0011] to provide the device with better sealing, [0012]
to facilitate removal of the applicator.
Definition of the Invention
[0013] The invention aims to be a response to this objective and
achieves that end by virtue of a wiping element of axis X
comprising an internal wiping skirt extended in its lower part by a
wiping lip defining a wiping orifice, the internal wiping skirt
being extended in its upper part by a shoulder connected to an
external catching skirt by a holding portion, at least one
preferably annular first groove, open towards the wiping lip, being
defined between the internal wiping skirt and the external catching
skirt.
[0014] Because the junction zone specific to the invention
comprises a groove, the wiping element is able to deform in order
to guarantee good sealing owing to the fact that the internal
wiping skirt is caused to adapt closely to the form of an
applicator and to press against it. Sealing is achieved even in the
case of there being manufacturing tolerances or a slight angular
offset of the applicator at the neck of the receptacle when
positioned. This is achieved by means of the separate skirts.
High-quality sealed positioning of the applicator on the remainder
of the device can be obtained.
[0015] The wiping skirt, which may have a sealing fluting, is
separate from the skirt for catching on the receptacle and a skirt
for holding a magnet. Sealing is perpendicular relative to the axis
of closure of the cap. This architecture makes it possible to
achieve a high level of sealing whilst minimising cap closure
effort. The little effort needed to obtain sealing results in the
use of a magnetic or mechanical retention means, affording the user
comfortable use.
[0016] A further major advantage of the invention lies in that the
wiping element can carry a magnet or another filler material in the
groove defined in the junction zone. The number of components to be
assembled in order to produce a magnet-based closure system device
is reduced and the magnets can be superposed with a smaller
gap.
[0017] The wiping element according to the invention may be used
with a mascara or a gloss (Dip-In system), with a magnetic closure
cap or by snap-fitting.
[0018] The invention also relates to a device of axis Y for
packaging and applying a product, particularly a care or make-up
product, including: [0019] a receptacle for containing the product,
[0020] an applicator affixed to a cap and comprising an application
element,
[0021] the receptacle being provided with a wiping element as
defined previously, the wiping orifice being traversed by the
application element upon its exit from the receptacle.
[0022] The device according to the invention can allow assisted
opening and/or closing of the cover, based on a certain degree of
movement thereof by virtue of the repelling magnets phenomenon if
magnets are arranged in a groove of the wiping element, without
excessively complicating the manufacture of the casing.
[0023] The internal skirt of the wiping element serves, in
isolation, for guiding the cap over the throat of the receptacle at
the time of closure.
[0024] The invention also relates to a cosmetic method comprising
the operations consisting in:
[0025] (i) providing a device as described previously,
[0026] (ii) gripping the receptacle with one hand and the
applicator with the other hand,
[0027] (iii) opening the device by pulling or turning on the cap,
possibly to overcome the force of attraction between the first and
second magnets,
[0028] (iv) closing the device by bringing the cap and the
receptacle together, possibly assisted by the force of attraction
between the first and second magnets.
Main Definitions
[0029] The "axis X" means the longitudinal axis X.
[0030] A "cross section of a component of axis X" is a section
perpendicular to the axis X of the component.
[0031] The expression "longitudinal axis" denotes the line
connecting all the barycentres of the cross sections of the
tab.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0032] Preferably, the wiping element according to the invention
has one or more of the following features, taken alone or in
combination: [0033] The external catching skirt extends axially
over at least a quarter of the height of the internal wiping skirt,
preferably over at least half the height of the internal wiping
skirt and more preferably still over at least the entire height of
the internal wiping skirt. This structure guarantees that the first
groove, open towards the wiping lip, has sufficient depth. [0034]
The external catching skirt includes an external sealing fluting.
[0035] The holding portion includes at least one intermediate
holding skirt of axis X or a collar. The structure of the holding
portion is simple. [0036] The intermediate holding skirt provides,
with the external catching skirt, at least one preferably annular
second groove, open towards the wiping lip. The second groove may
serve as a space for housing a supplementary component. [0037] The
internal wiping skirt includes an internal surface provided with an
internal sealing fluting. A sealing zone is formed. [0038] The
annular second groove houses at least a first magnet or a ballast
that is fixed relative to the annular second groove. [0039] The
wiping element is formed as a single piece of one or of two
materials.
[0040] Preferably, the device according to the invention has one or
more of the following features, taken alone or in combination:
[0041] The wiping element or the cap includes at least a first
magnet as defined previously. [0042] The wiping element or the cap
includes a ballast or at least a second magnet, the first and
second magnets being, as appropriate, arranged so as to attract one
another upon passage from the open position to the closed position.
The device is able, without effort on the part of the user, to
ensure alignment between an exterior decorative element of the cap
and an exterior decorative element of the receptacle. [0043] The
first and the second magnets include one or pairs of polar zones or
studs. The magnets may be superposed with a smaller gap. [0044] The
cap includes an enlarged base part and a thinned gripping part.
Manual gripping of the cap is facilitated. [0045] The product is a
product to be taken from the receptacle, particularly a
mascara.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0046] The invention may be better understood from reading the
following detailed description of non-limiting implementation
examples thereof, and with reference to the appended drawing, in
which:
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic, front view of an example of a
packaging and application device according to the invention,
[0048] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device in FIG.
1,
[0049] FIG. 3 shows the wiping element, in isolation and in front
view,
[0050] FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the wiping
element,
[0051] FIG. 5 shows detail A from FIG. 4,
[0052] FIG. 6 is a top view of the wiping element in FIG. 3,
[0053] FIG. 7 shows the applicator in FIG. 1, in isolation and in
front view,
[0054] FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section through the applicator in
FIG. 8,
[0055] FIG. 9 shows detail A from FIG. 9,
[0056] FIG. 10 is a cross section through a first example of a
magnet of the wiping element of the device in FIG. 1,
[0057] FIG. 11 is a cross section through a second example of a
magnet of the wiping element of the device in FIG. 1,
[0058] FIG. 12 is a cross section through another example of a
wiping element according to the invention, mounted on a
receptacle,
[0059] FIG. 13 is a cross section through an example of a cap that
may be provided on the assembly in FIG. 12,
[0060] FIG. 14 is a cross section through the assembly in FIG. 12,
assembled with another example of a cap,
[0061] FIG. 15 is a front view of the device in FIG. 14.
[0062] The packaging and application device 1 of axis X shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 has an elongate form along a longitudinal axis X that
is preferably horizontal when resting on a horizontal planar
surface.
[0063] The device 1 includes a receptacle 10 that may contain a
mascara and a cap 5 to which an applicator 4 is affixed. The cap 5
is formed by a substantially cylindrical thinned gripping part 21
extended by an enlarged base part 22. The two parts are connected
together by a tapered junction zone 23.
[0064] The applicator 4 includes a stem 220, illustrated in FIG. 2,
that at its first end carries an application member (not shown) and
is extended, at its second end, by a fastening end piece 28. The
fastening end piece 28 is designed to be received in a
corresponding housing 51 of the cap 5, for example provided in the
thinned gripping part 21.
[0065] The application member is, for example, constituted by a
fine brush, a stiff brush, a piece of foam or a flocked end piece,
amongst other possibilities.
[0066] The body 11 of the receptacle 10 includes a neck 144 in
which a wiping element 30 of axis X according to the invention is
mounted, shown in FIGS. 3 to 6.
[0067] The wiping element 30 includes an internal wiping skirt 31,
which is extended in its lower part by a wiping lip 35 defining a
wiping orifice 37. It is extended in its upper part by a shoulder
14 connected to an external catching skirt 13 by a holding portion
40. This defines an annular groove 15, open away from the wiping
lip 35, and of a depth advantageously between 1 mm and 8 mm, and in
the figures equal to 4.3 mm.
[0068] The wiping element 30 is preferably produced as a single
piece by moulding one or more materials, preferably a flexible
thermoplastics material (PE, PP) or elastomeric thermoplastics
material, for example a nitrile or SEBS. Another way in which to
achieve this may be bi-injection or overmoulding in order to
differentiate the catching zones, for example the skirt 13 carrying
the fluting 88, from the flexible zones, for example the wiping lip
31. The wiping element 30 may be mounted forcibly in the receptacle
10, bearing on the free edge of the receptacle 10.
[0069] In the figures, the wiping element 30 has a circular cross
section. The diameter of the internal wiping skirt 31 is equal to
7.3 mm and the diameter of the wiping orifice 37 is equal to 4.9
mm. The overall height of the wiping element shown is equal to 12
mm.
[0070] The cross section of the wiping element 30 could also be
elliptical or oval, for example.
[0071] In the example shown, the holding portion 40 includes an
intermediate holding skirt 12 connected to the external catching
skirt 13 by a planar transverse wall 16 defining the bottom of the
annular groove 15.
[0072] The transverse wall 16 is joined practically perpendicularly
and at the mid-height of the external catching skirt 13, but it
could be joined differently. For example, the transverse wall 16
could be joined obliquely to the external catching skirt 13, or
have a concavity.
[0073] Holding of the wiping element 30 in the receptacle 10 may be
promoted by a fluting 88 provided on the exterior surface of the
external catching skirt 13 of the wiping element, as may be seen in
FIG. 3.
[0074] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the applicator 4 includes an
annular holding collar 29 designed to bear against the wiping
element 30 in the closed position of the device 1. The collar 29
defines two annular grooves 64, 66 that are remote from the stem
220 and open away from the application member. The collar 29
includes a guide part 67 capable of sliding against the internal
surface of the wiping skirt 31 and defining, with the stem 220, a
narrow annular groove 68 that is open towards the application
member.
[0075] The applicator 4 may be formed as a single piece.
[0076] As illustrated in FIG. 7, the external face of the collar 29
may be provided with beads 79 that press on the radially internal
surface of the cap 5, which can help to retain the applicator in
the cap 5.
[0077] Good sealing of the device 1 is, in particular, ensured by
the presence, on the wiping element 30, of one or two radial
sealing zones: [0078] a first sealing zone 62 at the fluting 8
located on the internal face of the wiping skirt 31. [0079] a
second sealing zone 60 at the wiping lip 31.
[0080] Axial sealing between the cap 5 and the wiping element 30
may be achieved by the annular boss 25 provided on the exterior
face of the shoulder 14.
[0081] The intermediate holding skirt 12 provides, with the
internal wiping skirt 31, an annular groove 65 that is open towards
the wiping lip 35, in order to enhance the flexibility of the
wiping element 30 and to facilitate removal of the applicator 4.
This flexibility is reassuring for the user as it reduces the
likelihood of product spurting out when the applicator 4 is
removed, and in addition the removal action is more definite. The
width of the annular groove 65 is advantageously between 0.5 mm and
5 mm. It is equal to 1.7 mm in the figures.
[0082] Magnetic means are provided to supplement the sealing system
of the device 1 and to assist the movement of opening and closing
the cap 5. These magnetic means may include an annular first magnet
61 inserted in the groove 15 of the wiping element 30 and an
annular second magnet 81 carried by the cap 5, as may be seen in
FIG. 2.
[0083] The annular first magnet 61 of axis X is, for example,
mounted forcibly, snap-fitted, overmoulded or glued in the groove
15.
[0084] A second magnet 81 of axis X, of exactly the same size as
the first magnet 61, is, for example, mounted in the same way in
the groove 64 of the applicator 4.
[0085] The bottom wall 74 of the groove 64 is relatively thin,
around 0.16 mm, to allow the magnetic field to pass between the two
magnets 61 and 81.
[0086] With reference to FIG. 10, it will be observed that the
magnet 61 may include two pairs of diametrically opposite polar
zones. Thus, the polar zones N and S are regularly alternated
around the axis X of the device.
[0087] In a variant, as shown in FIG. 11, the magnet 61 in FIG. 10
could be replaced by a plurality of permanently magnetised studs
110, 111 corresponding, respectively, to each polar zone of the
magnet in FIG. 10. These studs 110, 111 may be overmoulded in a
plastics gasket 117 prior to mounting in the wiping element 30.
[0088] The magnet 81 may be identical to the magnet 61. However, it
is positioned in the cap 5 such that its polar zones on the face
turned towards the receptacle 10 have an opposite magnetisation to
that of the face facing the magnet 61 when the cap 5 is in its
position of closing the receptacle 10.
[0089] Upon closure of the device 1, the magnetic fields created by
the magnets 61 and 81 interact with one another. In an extreme
case, the polar zones of each magnet facing one another have the
same polarity, and then the cap 5 automatically undergoes a
rotational movement about the axis X as a result of magnetic
repulsion, a rotational movement which is accentuated by the
attraction of the polar zones of opposite polarity of the two
magnets 61 and 81, which are progressively superposed.
[0090] When all the polar zones of the two magnets are facing a
polar zone of opposite polarity, the cap 5 is in a stable position
relative to the receptacle 10. Simultaneously, the magnets 61, 81
maintain the cap 5 on the receptacle 10. There is thus no need to
make provision for supplementary fastening means.
[0091] Of course, the number of poles or of polar zones on each
magnet may be modified without departing from the scope of the
invention. For example, it is possible to make provision for a
plurality of polar zones of opposite polarity that are
diametrically opposite on the face of one and the same magnet.
Where there is a plurality of studs that are permanently
magnetised, it is possible to make provision for an even or an odd
number of studs.
[0092] Of course, the greater the spread of polar zones, the faster
the automatic positioning system will take effect.
[0093] By way of example, the magnets may be made of
neodymium-iron-boron.
[0094] FIGS. 12 and 13 show an embodiment of the invention without
magnets.
[0095] The wiping element 30 shown in FIG. 12 has an internal
wiping skirt 31 extended in its upper part by a shoulder 14
connected to an external catching skirt 13 by a collar 19 forming a
holding portion 40. An annular groove 65 open towards the wiping
lip is defined between the external catching skirt 13 and the
internal wiping skirt 31, the collar 19 forming the bottom of the
annular groove 65.
[0096] The wiping element 30 is moulded as a single piece from
polyethylene. It may be force-fitted into the receptacle 10. The
external catching skirt 13 extends axially, in the example shown,
beyond the internal wiping skirt 31 and the wiping lip 35.
[0097] The cap 5 shown in FIG. 13 includes a stem 220 of applicator
4 inserted into the housing 51. The cap 5 may be formed as a single
piece. It may include a relief, in particular a rice grain 55, to
ensure that it snap-fits on the external sealing fluting 88 of the
wiping element 30.
[0098] The device 1 shown in FIG. 14 without an applicator includes
a cap 5 without a relief to complement the fluting 88. Aside from
this difference, the device is practically identical to that
obtained by assembling the assembly in FIG. 12 with the cap in FIG.
13.
[0099] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments
just been described. It is possible, in particular, to combine
together features from different embodiments and to use other forms
of wiping element or stem. In particular, it is possible to provide
a magnet on one side (for example, in the cap) and a ballast made
from ferrous metal in the wiping element in order to achieve a
system without repulsion but which is cheaper.
* * * * *